Head construction for collapsible tubes



HEAD CONSTRUCTION FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed April 7, 1943 32:91.1. JZzGZ.

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ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 18, 1947 ITED STATES Mm OFFICE HEAD CONSTRUCTIONFOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Claims. i

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible tubes and moreparticularly it pertains to a novel construction of head and bodyconnection for articles of this type.

It has been proposed to form the body of collapsible tubes from paper,regenerated cellulose materials and similar materials which inthemselves are possessed of practically no rigidity.

Since the head of the completed tube is formed of metals, plastics, andsimilar materials possessed of a high degree of rigidity, a satisfactoryconstruction for effectively securing the head within one end of thetube body has presented a serious problem which to my knowledge has notpreviously been satisfactorily solved.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novelconstruction of joint between the head and the body of a collapsibletube which construction is particularly adaptable to collapsible tubeswherein the body is formed of paper, regenerated cellulose and similarmaterials having a negligible degree of rigidity.

Such tubes of the type mentioned with which I am familiar fail, at thejoint between the tube body and the head under pressure built up withinthe tube resulting from the action of collapsing the tube, to dischargethe contents thereof.

A feature of the invention resides in a novel construction whereby asecure bond between the tube body and the head may be obtained.

Another feature of the invention resides in a novel construction wherebythe tube body is reinforced at its joint of connection with the head.

Still another feature of the invention resides in a novel constructionwhereby the internal pressures, particularly those pressures exerted ina direction radially of the axis of the tube, are reduced to a minimumat that point where the tube body and head join with each other.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of asmooth inner surface in the direction of flow of the contents of thetube in its discharge from the tube.

Still another feature of the invention resides in a tube of smoothcontour having no projection or overhang of the shoulder. This isimportant to the use of present day automatic filling equipment.

In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated a tube constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the drawing also illustrating onemethod by which such a tube has been successfully produced upon acommercial scale.

In the drawing,

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate schematically, the

2 first and second steps of the method employed in the production of atube constructed according to the present invention,

Figures 3 and 4 are similar views, illustrating respectively the thirdand fourth steps of the method, and;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a tubeconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Figure 5, the body of thetube is designated I0, the head thereof being designated l2.

The body Ill, as heretofore stated, is formed in any desired manner ofsuch material as is possessed of little or no rigidity such as paper,regenerated cellulose and similar materials and hence is yieldable inpractically all directions.

The head 12 may be formed from any suitable material having a highdegree of rigidity, plastics being one example of a material which hasbeen successfully employed.

The head has a relatively thin walled main body portion I 4 and is soshaped as to provide an inner cavity I5, the walls of which convergeinto a discharge passage I6, leading through a neck I I which may beexternally threaded to receive a closure cap, not shown.

Extending from the main body portion I2 of the head there is an annularflange I8 which defines the larger open end of the cavity I5.

This flange I8 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the innerdiameter of the larger open end of the cavity I5. Its outer diameter is,however, less than the diameter of the main body portion I2 of the capand as clearly illustrated in the drawing, also less than the innerdiameter of the tube body.

The aforedescribed construction provides an annular shoulder I9 whichextends around the exterior of the main body portion of the cap and alsoan annular intervening space between the outer face of the flange I8and-the inner face of the Wall of the tube body when the flange I8 isinserted into an end of the body in the attachment of the head thereto.

The free edge of the flange I8 is beveled to provide an outwardlydisposed angular face 20 which extends throughout the length of the freeed e of the flange 18.

By this construction, it will be apparent that the space between theouter face of the flange I8 and the inner face of the wall of the tubebody I0 increases in its lateral dimension adpurpose of whichconstruction will be hereinafter particularly pointed out.

In securing the head in one of the ends of the tube body, the flange l8of the head is inserted into the body in spaced relation to the innersurface thereof and the two elements are secured together by a bondingadhesive of a highly volatile nature and which is characterized by apronounced ability to shrink during the setting period, and which ispreferably transparent when set. One example of an adhesive having theaforementioned characteristics is similar to the commercial productmarketed as Duco household cemen A sufiicient quantity of bondingadhesive is employed to envelope the end of the tube body forming arelatively thin band '26 on the outer face thereof adjacent the headmember, enclose the end edge of the tube body to secure the band to theshoulder I9 by adhesion as indicated by the web 21, fill the spacebetween the tube body and the outer face of the flange l8 of the headmember to provide a ring 28 to connect the flange and tube body togetherby adhesion, and to forman annular ring or shoulder 29 upon the interiorof the tube body, which shoulder has an angular inner face 30 whichmerges with the inner edge of the bevel 20 of the flange 18 as at 3|,and which forms a continuation of said flange.

By reference to Figure 5 of the drawing, it will be apparent that theconstruction illustrated and described provides an inner surface of tubeand head in which there are no obstructions or hinderances to the flowof contents of the cap at the joint between the body and the head.Instead, this flow of material is facilitated and internal pressuresexerted in a direction radial of the axis of the tube body are reducedto a minimum by the angular face 30 of the annular shoulder 29.

Having described the construction, I will now described one method bywhich this construction has been successfully produced on a commercialscale.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, the reference numeral 40 designates asuitable receptacle which contains a suitable bonding adhesive 4! of thetype aforementioned which is maintained at a constant level which hasbeen predetermined to insure the proper amount of adhesive adhering tothe end of the tube body, when it is withdrawn.

As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, the end of the tube body I.is submerged in the adhesive to a point where it engages the bottom ofthe receptacle.

The tube body is next withdrawn from the adhesive with the proper amountof adhesive enveloping the end thereof as indicated at 42 in Figure 8.

The bonding adhesive being of a highly volatile type, as heretoforementioned, a'thin film or skin immediately forms upon the outer portionthereof. This thin film or skin serves to retain the body of adhesive inapproximately the shape or form in which it is illustrated in Figure 3until the end of the tube body is positioned upon the head.

The head is held in a suitable support, not herein illustrated, intheposition in which it is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and th end of thetube body is forced over the flange I8 thereof to a point where thedefining edge of the tube body closely approaches but does not contactthe shouliii) 4 der IQ of the head. This position of the parts isillustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing.

Upon movement of the tube body to its final position upon the head, asjust described, the bonding adhesive takes the forms in which it isillustrated in Figure 4. The aforementioned skin preventing the adhesivefrom running down the shoulder l9.

With the parts in this last mentioned relation, th bonding adhesive ispermitted to set, to form the completed bond between the tube body andthe head.

During the setting period, the bonding adhesive due to its pronouncedability to shrink, assumes the form in which it is illustrated in Figure5 of the drawing.

'The relatively thick bead-like portion 50 in Figure 4, shrinks to formthe annular flange 29 having the angular face 36, while the relativethick outer film iii of Figure 4 takes the form of the relatively thinskin portion 26 of Figure 5.

It has been found in actual practice that the portion 5| of the bondingadhesive shrinks during the setting period, sufliciently to form inefiect, a contracted band which firmly grips the tube body to the flangeof the head.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawing, it will beunderstood I have turned a bonding adhesive which might be one of anywhich has an afiinity for the materials from which the tube body andhead are constructed, from an adhesive, which is usually amicroscopically thin film, into a ring structure '29 having definitethickness, and which ring is substantially triangular shape in crosssection. The ring 29 joins the inside of the tube body to the beveledflange of the head 12 and forms a funnel-shaped structure which guidesthe contents of the tube into the head l2 during a dispensing operation,instead of giving the contents a chance to wedge between the inside wallof the tube body and the outside wall of the flange i8.

Also, the external band or ring 26 which encircles the outer wall of thetube body has a definite thickness and serves two purposes; first, itforms a seamless substantially invisible band of set bonding adhesive toprevent the body of the tube from unwinding (when made of wound sheets),or from spreading under pressure from the contents of the tube. Second,the band or ring 2'6, by reason of its engagement with the shoulder if)of the head (2, provides a bond between the tube body and the plastichead 12. Thus it will be understood that the tube body and plastic headare joined together inside and outside which prevents pressure of thecontents of the tube body from forcing the head outward of the tubebody. The band or ring 26 has a predetermined thickness, greater thanwhat may betermed a film of adhesive.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a collapsible tube, a tube body, a rigid head member having anannular flange extending into one end of the tube body, an annularexterior shoulder provided on said head membar at the base of saidflange and extending beyond the circumferential plane of the side wall 7of the tube body, an outwardly facing bevel surface provided on the freeedge of said flange, an annular plastic ring isposed between the bevelsurface of the flange and the inner side wall of the tube body andconnected thereto by adhesion, an outer plastic binding band surroundingthe tube body adjacent said head member, and a plastic web connectingthe exterior of the side wall and adjacent end edge of the tube body tosaid shoulder by adhesion thereto, said plastic web being integral withsaid plastic binding band.

2. In a collapsible tube, a tube body, a rigid head member having anannular flange extending into one end of said tube body, an annularexterior shoulder provided on said head member at the base of saidflange and extending beyond the circumferential plane of said tube body,an outer seamless plastic binding band surrounding the tube bodyadjacent said head member and adhesively securely to the exterior of theside wall of the tube body, and a plastic web connecting the adjacentend edge of the tube body to said shoulder and being integral with saidplastic binding band.

3. In a collapsible tube, a tube body, a rigid head member having anannular flange extending into said tube body, an annular exteriorshoulder provided at the outer end of said flange and extending beyondthe exterior circumferential plane of the side wall of said tube body,an outwardly facing bevel provided on the free inner end of said flange,an inner ring of plastic interposed between said flange and the innerwall of the tube body and extending inwardly beyond the bevelled end ofthe flange and secured to adjacent surfaces by adhesion thereto, anannular plastic band extending about the exterior of the tube bodyadjacent the head member, and a connecting plastic web interposedbetween the shoulder and the adjacent end edge of the tube body andsecured thereto by adhesion, said plastic web being integral with theinner ring and said band.

4. In a collapsible tube, a tube body, a rigid head member having anexteriorly reduced annular flange forming a positioning stop shoulder atthe outer end thereof, said flange telescopically fitting into one endof the tube body, an exteriorly bevelled surface provided at the freeinner end of the flange and cooperating with the adjacent inner wall ofthe tube body to provide an annular cement-receiving trough, a liquidcement plastic filling the trough, said liquid cement plastic containinga highly volatile solvent forming, when set, a bonding ring within thetrough which joins the bevelled surface of the flange with the innerwall of the tube body, a flat seamless band formed of the same liquidcement plastic extending about the exterior of the tube body and aplastic web integral with the band and interposed between the stopshoulder and the adjacent end of the tube body for joining the same withthe positioning stop shoulder, whereby the finished collapsible tube issubstantially smooth throughout its outer surface when the plasticcement has set.

5. In a collapsible tube, a tube body, a rigid head member having anexteriorly reduced annular flange fitting into one end of the tube body,an annular exterior shoulder provided at the outer end of said flange,an annular bevelled surface provided on the exterior of the free edge ofthe flange and cooperating with the inner wall of the tube body toprovide an annular receptacle, a transparent cellulose normally liquidcement filling the receptacle, said cellulose liquid cement having astrong affinity for the tube body and head member and, when set, forminga hard solid ring joining the flange to the inner wall of the tube body,a flat transparent seamless band encircling the exterior of the tubebody adjacent the head member, said flat transparent band being formedof the same cellulose liquid cement, and a plastic connecting webinterposed between the shoulder and adjacent end edge of the tube bodyand being integral with said band whereby the tube body and head memberare joined together both interiorly and exteriorly.

RICHARD E. PAIGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 493,616 lark Mar. 14, 18931,536,443 Lermer May 5, 1925 2,274,258 Roselle Feb. 24, 1942 560,984Funk May 26, 1896 2,138,699 Hinze Nov. 29, 1938 1,980,566 Wright Nov.13, 1934 2,303,322 Bigger Dec. 1, 1942- 1,590,783 Tesse June 29, 19262,207,294 Hubner July 9, 1940

